How to use Google Docs to Request Changes to a Web Page

Suggesting Changes via Google Docs is the easiest way to ask for changes to a web page. You can either use the Request Form or send an email to sph.web@umich.edu with a link to the Google Doc.

Here are the steps:

1. Create a new blank Google Doc. Name it for the task you want to complete and include the date. For example, in this article I am editing the DEI CPE Online Resources page on the Heights. So I would name it Changes to the DEI CPE Online Resources Page 9/3/22.
2. Paste the URL of the web page you want to be changed at the top
3. Copy the contents of the page and paste it into the Google Doc
   1. If the page contains accordions (displayed below), you will need to expand each accordion and copy the contents one at a time. You also cannot copy the heading, so you will need to type that in. You may also have to redo the bullets using the bulleted list icon in the toolbar.
      
   2. Let's say you want to replace some text. Select the text that you want to replace. You will see three symbols pop up on the right side of the page:
      
      1. The first symbol is for adding a comment. You would use this if you want to ask a question about the selected text. You can even assign the comment to the colleague that you want to answer the question.
      2. The second one is for adding an emoji
      3. The third one is what you want: Suggest an Edit. Click that and make your suggestion. This could be deleting the text, or replacing the text:
         
         Here I have suggested replacing “8 hours = 480” with “9 hours = 500”
      4. You can even assign a suggestion to a colleague. If this is just an instruction for the person making the web updates, you do not need to assign it.
   3. Once you are in Suggesting Mode, you will see this at the top right of the doc:
      

In Suggesting Mode, everything else you do on the doc, whether it is adding text, deleting text, or whatever, it will show up as a suggestion. This is very helpful to the person making the changes as all they will have to do is accept the suggestion, then copy the new content.

If you accidentally get out of Suggesting Mode and go back to Editing Mode, just click on the words Editing Mode at the top and choose Suggesting Mode again.

If you would like to suggest changes to more than one page, just insert a Page Break into the Google Doc, and follow the steps above for each page.

Be sure to share the doc with whomever you want to make the edits, making them an editor. And include a link to the doc in your email to sph.web@umich.edu. Also, if you are requesting a change to an image or a new image, please include the image file as an attachment in the email you send to sph.web@umich.edu.